Posted: Jul 16, 2010 - 03:20 PM
Another perspective? I've lived on the shores of Lake Champlain (6th great lake) for 35 years and we get every kind of weather system/wave pattern/storm size/idiot you can imagine. I've had 20 different boats at one time or another. I rescue someone once a month or so. I have problems too. Looking back (based on your story), I come up with one thought: crud happens. Less to us mind you- the folks with decent equipment, training, weather eye, but it does happen. It is and should be all fun and games until someone looses and eye. Really. Cause you never know no matter what you're doing, right? I've had a few things happen in my riskier sports (I don't consider Cat'ing risky) like loosing landing gear on a plane, heavy icing flying and a scuba near disaster or two. Sailing problems too, but those seem so much more relaxed (you're on semi solid ground!). Of all the lake rescues I performed, most were wingnuts (trapped in bad weather, too weak to lift the windsurf sail, outta gas). I guess I'm saying I feel safe and assured on the cat once I get over the "I may loose a mast and float for a while" syndrome (and I have that too). I bring a phone to shorten the wait tho.
Here's one less dramatic but scared the b'geebers out of me- once, in 20mph winds leaning way out, the traveller/block pin (screw in this case) blew out and I fell backwards into the water almost falling off, then having to get back to a safe harbor using the sunfish sheet system. Scary short-term but way cool story after.
Steve
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H18, H17, P19, Glastron GT-150 (Bond jump boat)
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